Sorting device



May 2, 1944.

R. CONNOR ETAL SORIING DEVICE Filed March 20, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet llNVENTOR ROGER CONNOR BY NELSON S. WELK W W ATTORNEYS May 2, 1944.

R. CONNOR ETAL SORTING DEVICE Filed March 20, 1945 I5 Sheets-Sheet 2OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO O O O O O O, O O O O O O O INVENTOR ROGER CONNOR BYNELSON S. WELK rm! ATTORNEYS May 2, 1944- R. CONNOR ETAL 2,347,811-

SORTING DEVICE Filed March 20, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR ROG E RCONNOR BY NEL JSON s. A/ELK F7 W AI'BORNEYS Patented May 2, 19442,341,s11 sonrmc DEVICE Roger Connor and Nelson S. Welk, Athens, Ohio,assignors to The McBee Company, Athens, Ohio,

a corporation of Ohio Application March 20, 1943, Serial No. 479,850

15 Claims. 129-161) This invention relates to a. device for the manualsorting of marginally punched cards. More particularly, it relates to asorting plate to be used in connection with either selectively orsequentially sorting a relatively large group of cards, having one ormore rows of perforations along at least one edge, notched or slottedaccording to-a predetermined code. Cards of this type are illustrated bythe disclosure appearing in United States Patent No. 2,213,607 issued toD. A. Nevin, September 3, 1940.

Heretofore, sorting a group of cards of this general type has beenaccomplished through the use of card supports utilizing movable bottomsand removable master plates or templates. This type of sorting deviceand its operation has been generally illustrated and described, inUnited States Patent No. 2,299,566 issued to'Connor and Nevin, October20, 1942.

An object of the present invention is to provide a sorting device foruse with cards of the type above described which will be compact andreadily portable for use in the field, as well as in oiiices.

Another object of the invention resides in the construction of alightweight, rugged, one-piece sorting plate which will functionefiiciently without requiring the use of a movable or drop bottomstructure in conjunction with one or more master plates.

Another object is to provide a sorting device combining in a. unitarystructure aligning means whereby a group of cards, for example, having adouble row of perforations notched or slotted, as described in the abovesaid Patent No. 2,213,607, can be readily sorted.

These and other objects and advantages, not at this time moreparticularly enumerated, will be apparent from the following detaileddescription, in conjunction with the appended claims, and theaccompanying drawings forming a part of this specification.

An illustrative embodiment disclosing a sorting device made according tothis invention is shown in the. accompanying drawings, in which likenumerals are employed to designate like parts throughout, and in whichonly a. preferred example of the invention has been illustrated:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a card sorting device einbodying oneform of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional end view of the right end of the deviceillustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation showing a group of cards having the sortingdevice illustrated in Fig. I mounted thereon, and illustrating themethod of aligning the multiple selectors or needles preparatory toinsertion;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing a group of cards with the sortingdevice of Fig. 1 held in place thereon by the operator, and illustratingthe manner in which the multiple needle sorter is inserted;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing a modifled form of sorting deviceconstructed according to the present invention; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional end view of the right end of the device as viewedin Fig. 5.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, whenever applicantrefers to the term card" vor cards it is to be understood that itemssuch as, sheets, checks or slips and the like may be substituted as willbe understood by those familiar with the art. These terms are also meantto include said additional meanings when used in defining the scope ofthe invention in the subjoined claims.

In general, as shown in Fig. 1, the card sorting plate is formed from anangle member whose sides I0 and H are integrally joined together to forma right angle. Triangular shaped end pieces l2 and I3 are integrallyjoined to the sides l0 and I l at their ends to enclose this structure,and provide stops against which the group of cards can be jogged foraligning purposes. Openings l4 and [5 cut through the sides providefingering space for the operator and thereby facilitate separating thecards, and insuring that a complete sort will be made.

Bored through side ill at spaced intervals are a row of holes 16positioned below and parallel to the apex ll, formed by the joining ofthe sides 10 and II, which extend clear across the sorting plate. Where,for example, cards of the type generally illustrated and described as inPatent No. 2,213,607 are used, these holes l6 correspond in number andregister with the lower or inner row of perforations when the sortingplate -is held in relation to a group of such cards as shown in Fig. 4.Adjacent to the upper right hand corner of side l0, Fig. l, and aboveand diagonally to the right of the holes IS, a single hole I8 isprovided for the insertion of a sorting needle or red to remove certainselected cards as will be more fully described hereafter.

A row of holes I9, similar to those at iii, are bored through side ll.These are also regularly spaced, parallel to and positioned below theapex H, but correspond in number and are in register with the upper orouter row of perforations in -the cards when the sorting plate isreversed so Notches'23 in angle plate 2i correspond in number to theholes iii in side III, while those in angle plate 22 correspond innumber to those in side ll. Since the row of holes l6 corresponds andaligns with, for example, the inner or lower row of perforations in acard of the type having a double row of perforations along one or moreedges; angle plate 2| is positioned a suflicient distance below the apexI! so that, when the sorting plate is held as illustrated in Fig. 4, theneedles 24 in the multiple holder 25 can be inserted through the notches23 and the holes 16 parallel to side ll. Similarly angle plate 22 ispositioned with respect to the apex I1 so that when the sorting plate isreversed, with side II to the front, the sorting needles 24 can beinserted through notches 23 and holes l9 parallel to side i0.

The multiple holder 25 having a plurality of sorting needles 24removably held therein is of a type based upon the disclosure ofasimilar type, sorting device appearing in United States Patent No.2,261,719 issued to Connor and Nevin, November 4, 1941, and is used inthe same manner as described therein. For'this reason furtherdescription of holder 24 is not believed to be necessary in thisspecification.

Fig. 3 illustrates the position in which the holder 25 is held,preparatory to inserting the needles 24 through the group of cards 36 tobe sorted. In this way the needles, which are somewhat fiexible, can berested in the notches 23 oi both angle plates 2| and 22 and held inproper position as the holder is drawn back. When the tips of theneedles clear the upper angle plate they are in proper position to bereadily inserted through the row of holes aligned directly behind thenotches in the lower angle plate. The sorting of the cardscan then beaccomplished in the usual manner. Corner holes l8 and 20 enable theoperator to insert a single sorting needle to remove certain cardssorted in a manner as described in the above said Patent No. 2,213,607.

A modified form of the present invention is illustrated in Figs. 5 and6. The card sorting plate is formed with a pair of side members 23 and21 held in spaced relation with respect to each other by means oftruncated triangular shaped end pieces 28 and 29 welded to these sidemembers at each end thereof. Flanged edges 30 are provided on these endpieces to facilitate securing the side members in proper position.

The upper edges of sldemembers 26 and 21'are bent as at 3! and 32, andhave a plurality of notches 33 out along their outer edges. Thesenotches correspond in number and are so positioned that those, forexample, in upper edge 32 can be used to align the sorting needles 24 ofholder 25 for insertion in the upper row of perforations, while those inupper edge 3| are positioned for sorting through the lower row ofperforations in the group of cards to be sorted. Thus when this sortingplate is held in position with respect to a grou of cards 36, similar tothe position shown in Fig. 4, the sorting needles 24 may be alignedacross the edges 3| and 32, drawn back and inserted directly into thegroup of cards in the same manner as previously explained in connectionwith Fig. 3. For the same purpos -and reason, as above described, withrelation to comer holes I8 and 20, similar comer sorting holes 34 and 35are provided in this modified structure.

While a specific embodiment of the present invention has been described,it is to be understood that the form herewith shown and described is apreferred example only and that various modifications may be madetherein without materially departing from the spirit of the invention asdefined by the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, we claim:

l. A platefor facilitating the sorting of perforated and slotted cardscomprising an elongated member having two sides forming substantially aright angle with respect to each other, said sides connected at theirends by a cross piece, and guide means located on each of the said sidesadjacent said angle.

2. A plate for facilitating the sorting of perfora-ted and slotted cardscomprising an elongated member having two sides forming substantially aright angle with respect to each other, said sides connected at theirends by a cross piece, and notched aligning guides located on. each ofthe said sides atrelatively diiierent positions with respect to saidangle.

3. A plate for facilitating the sorting of notched and slotted cardscontaining upper and lower rows of marginal perforations comprising anelongated member having two sides forming si1b stantially a right anglewith respect to each other, said sides connected at their ends by.across piece, and the upper edgeportions of said sides having elementsformed with a plurality of notches therein positioned in such a way thatthose on one edge portion can be'used as guides far the upper row ofperforations and those on the other edge portion can be used as guidesfor the lower row of perforations.

4. A device of the character described for facilitating the sorting ofperforated and slotted cards comprising an elongated triangular prismshaped member having a row of regularly spaced holes extending along oneedge thereof, and a notched plate secured to said member parallel tosaid row of holes.

5. A device of the character-described for facilitating the sorting ofperforated andslotted cards P comprising an elongated triangular prismshaped member having a row of holes positioned therein at spacedintervals along one edge; and a plate notched along one edge fastened soas to extend longitudinally across said member parallel to said row ofholes, the notched edge of said plate bent in such a way that it isspaced away from said row of holes.

6. A device of the character described for facilitating the sorting ofperforated and slotted cards r; comprising an elongated member havingtwo sides joining to form substantially a right angle, said sides closedat their ends by pieces integrally joined thereto, a plurality ofregularly spaced holes extending along meet the said sides, and aplateattached to'the last said side having one edge thereof extendingaway from said holes containing a plurality of notches corresponding innumber and aligning with said holes.

'7. A device of the character described for facilitating the sorting ofperforated and slotted cards comprising a pair of elongated membersjoined to form substantially a right angle; and a plate fastened to eachsaid elongated member and extending longitudinally parallel to the apexformed by joining said elongated members, each plate having an edgeportion adjacent said apex and containing a plurality of notchestherein.

8. A device of the character described for facilitating the sorting ofperforated and slotted cards comprising an elongated member having twosides joining to form substantially a right angle, a row of holes ineach of said sides extending parallel to the apex formed by Joining saidsides, a single hole in each of said sides diagonally adjacent to theend of said row of holes therein, and an elongated plate having notchesextending alongone edge thereof fastened to each side in such a way thatsaid notches are in alignment with. the holes in said row.

9. A plate for facilitating the sorting of perforated and slotted cardscomprising an elongated member having two sides joining to formsubstantially a right angle, each of said sides having an openingtherein to provide fingering space, a row of holes in each of said sidesextending parallel to the apex formed by joining said sides, and anelongated plate having notches extending along one edge thereof fastenedto each side in such a way that said notches are in alignment with theholes in said row.

10. A plate for facilitating the sorting of perforated and slotted cardscomprising an elongated member having two sides joining to formsubstantially a right angle, said sides closed at their ends by piecesintegrally joined thereto, a row of holes in each of said sidesextending parallel to the apex formed by joining said sides, a singlehole in each of said sides diagonally adjacent to the end of said row ofholes therein, and an elongated plate having notches extending along oneedge thereof fastened to each side in such a way that said notches arein alignment with the holes in said row.

11. A plate for facilitating the sorting of perforated and slotted cardscomprising an elongated member having two sides joining to formsubstantially a right angle, said sides closed at their ends by piecesintegrally joined thereto, a row of holes in each of said sidesextending parallel to the apex formed by joining said sides, each ofsaid sides having an opening therein to provide fingering space, and anelongated plate having notches extending along one edge thereof fastenedto each side in such a way that said notches are in alignment with theholes in said row.

12. A plate for facilitating the sorting of perforated and slotted cardscomprising an elongated member having two sides Joining to formsubstantially a right angle, said sides closed at their ends by piecesintegrally joined thereto, a

row of holes in each of said sides extending parallel to the apex formedby joining said sides, a single hole in each of said sides diagonallyadjacent to the end of said row of holes therein,

each of said sides having an opening therein to provide fingering space,and an elongated plate having notches extending along one edge thereoffastened to each side in such a way that said notches are in alignmentwith the holes in said row.

13. The combination with a holder having a plurality of sorting needlesmounted therein to facilitate the sorting of cards containing upper andlower parallel rows of marginal perforations adapted to be notched andslotted according to a predetermined code: of an elongated member havingtwo sides joining to form substantially a right angle, said sides closedat their ends by pieces integrally joined thereto, and the upper edgeportions of said sides having elements formed with a plurality ofnotches therein positioned in such a way that those on one edge portioncan be used as guides for the upper row of perforations and those on theotheredge portion can be used as guides for the lower row ofperforations.

14. The combination with a holder having a plurality of sorting needlesmounted therein to facilitate the sorting of cards containing upper andlower parallel rows of marginal perforations adapted to be notched andslotted according to a predetermined code: of'an elongated member openat the top having two sides joining to form substantially a right anglewith respect to each other, the upper edge portions of said sides havingelements formed with a plurality of notches therein positioned in such away that those on one edge portion can be used as guides for the upperrow of perforations and those on the other edge portion can be used asguides for the lower row of perforations, and a single hole in each ofsaid edge portions at one end thereof adjacent to said notches.

15. For use with a sorting needle holder, a plate for facilitating thesorting of perforated and slotted cards comprising an elongated memherhaving two sides, means for joining said sides in angular relationshipto receive a group of cards to be sorted, said joining means providingends to close the receiving space between said sides, and each of saidsides being provided along its upper edge with a plurality of notchespositioned to 'receive said sorting needle and so arranged and of suchextent that said notches can be used as guides for the respective'rowsof perforations in the cards.

ROGER CONNOR. NELSON 3. WEEK.

